Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Football fan Will Knutson , age 9, from Atlanta throws a football in the parking lot outside of Lambeau Field before the NFC Wild Card playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Minesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Two touchdowns by fullback John Kuhn and a swarming defense that kept all-world running back Adrian Peterson to 99 yards was enough to lift the Green Bay Packers to a 24-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the NFL Playoffs Saturday night.

Aaron Rodgers
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers, who said the offense has some things “to work on,” was complimentary of the defense, saying they were playing at a championship level. Charles Woodson, who had been out since Oct. 21, came back for this game and seemingly brought a new energy and stability to the unit.

“The defense played at a championship level; offensively we’ve got some things to work on,” Rodgers said. “We’ve got a tough test next week in San Francisco; had some guys go down tonight; we cut it off in the third quarter … we’ve gotta put a team away.”

Woodson was thankful for the win and felt like the team is ready to roll. “I felt good,” he said. I thought I moved around well. We wanted to continue the ride; the energy level was at an all-time high; this week we made the tackles; kept putting the heat on (Peterson).”

Coach Mike McCarthy also thought the defense played the way they had anticipated.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Webb (14) is tripped up by Green Bay Packers safety Charles Woodson,
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It comes down to playing with discipline, trusting the guy next to you … I think our defense was extremely disciplined tonight. We didn’t do whole lot of work on (Webb) … it didn’t change the game plan a whole lot. It’s a game of football, and we play whoever they line up with. The players and coaches did a hell of a job.”

Though Rodgers only threw one touchdown tonight, he was 23 of 33 for 274 yards and moved the team sharply in the first half to build what would be an insurmountable lead. The Packers did have to settle for a field goal when the Vikings shut them down inside the 10 yard line, but that was one of the few missteps by the Packers.

They took the air out of the ball in the second half and the Vikings scored a garbage touchdown late in the game on a broken coverage pass to make it a two-possession game, but it wouldn’t get any closer than that.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frasier said his team “played hard … and we’re extremely proud of the football team the way they represented the organization; these guys didn’t put limitations on what they could achieve. Because of the character of the men on this football team there’s a lot we can learn from 2012 season.”

In looking ahead to next Saturday night’s game in San Francisco, Rodgers said,  ”It’s going to be fun to go back to the West Coast. hopefully get a lot of cheeseheads from Chico coming down for the game.”

Here’s how we started the day:

Wild Card weekend is here as the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings in Saturday night’s nationally televised game. For the second time in as many weeks, the Packers play the Vikings, thanks to Minnesota’s 37-34 win in the final game of the regular season. The win kept the Chicago Bears out of the playoffs and made a place for the Vikings who turn around and have to travel to Green Bay.

The signs were out early in Green Bay.

The story of the night could come down to several things: Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, and whether Vikings QB Christian Ponder plays. He had been struggling with elbow bursitis all week and was questionable going into Saturday night’s game.

Stopping Peterson will be key as will slowing whoever plays QB for the Vikings. The Packers also need to get out to a quick start on offense, establish their run game and play defense like it’s the last game of the year – which it is if they can’t do any of those things.

• A full house of about 73,000 is expected for the 7 p.m. game at Lambeau Field. Gametime temperature was to be around 29 degrees and dropping slowly through the night.

• Packers team-elected captains for today: James Jones, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Jarrett. Bush and Jamari Lattimore.

Joe Webb
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Packers vs. Vikings First half 

Joe Webb starts for the Vikings; Ponder out.

Clay Matthews in an interview just before gametime: “Have to be disciplined, hold up the edge.”

Packers won the toss and deferred to the Vikings

Beginning of the first quarter

Packers kickoff to Vikings – Sherels returns to the Vikings 33 – way too much yardage on opening kickoff

First and 10, Webb under center, hands off to Adrian Peterson who takes it up the middle for 3

Second and 7, Peterson for four off right tackle

Third and 3, Webb is caught in backfield, but gets away picks up first down breaking tackles. Is this a picture of what he will bring to this game?

First and 10 at Packers 44, handoff to Peterson for 6 off right tackle

Second and 2, Webb under center, hands off to Peterson who runs for a first down

First and 10 from Packers 29, Peterson for 11 off left guard

First and 10, Webb fakes handoff to Peterson and rushes for 5 off right tackle

Second and 5, Handoff to Peterson, Woodson hits Peterson in backfield for loss of 2

Vikings timeout – first

Third and 7, from the Packers 15, Webb in gun, under pressure Webb throws it away

The Donald Driver seems to be over in GB.

Tonight’s inactives.

WR Jarrett Boykin, CB Davon House, RB James Starks, LB Frank Zombo, WR Donald Driver, DT Jordan Miller, DE Jerel Worthy

FG By Blair Walsh GOOD from 33 yards

Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards in 5:34

Vikings kickoff to Packers

Jeremy Ross returns it to the Packers 31 up the right sideline

Packers first possession of the first half

First and 10 from the Packers 32, Rodgers from the gun, quick pass left to Randall Cobb for 7

No huddle, second and 3, handoff to DuJuan Harris for 2,

Third and 1, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle low and away dropped by Harris. Not a good pass by Rodgers who thought about running and then tried dumping it off to Harris.

Fourth down punt by Tim Masthay, Sherels returns it from the 16 to the 33

Adrian Peterson
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings second possession

First and 10 from the 33, Webb fakes handoff to Peterson and rolls right and gets the edge for 11 yards

First and 10, handoff to Peterson who shuffles right and gets tackled after 2 yards by Morgan Burnett

Second and 8, play action pass to the left side to TE Kyle Rudolph for 6

Third and 2 from the Vikings 48, Webb tackled by Walden, Webb throws a duck into the air and it falls incomplete. Clay Matthews was the closest player to the ball.

Fourth down punt by Chris Kluwe to Randall Cobb who returns it four yards to the Packers 17

Packers second possession

First and 10 from the Packers 16, Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 4

Second and 6, Rodgers under center, pitch to Harris to the left, breaks a tackle and takes the ball for 5

Third and 1, handoff to Ryan Grant, but Vikings are offside, lined up in neutral zone – first down

First and 10, ball at Packers 31, Rodgers nowhere to go, runs it up the middle for 3

Second and 7, soft screen to Harris for 16 yards and a first down

First and 10, ball at 49, inside handoff to Harris for 1

Second and 9, ball at the 50, pass over the middle to Jermichael Finley for nine and a first down

First and 10, Rodgers in gun, hands off to Harris up the middle for 2

Second and 8, Rodgers dumps ball over the middle to Harris for 15 and a first down

First and 10, ball at Vikings 24, pitch to Grant left, hit, turns it back inside and loses 1

DuJuan Harris
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Second and 11, Rodgers under center, Screen right to Grant who takes it down to the Vikings 10, gain of 17

First and 10 from the eight, pitch to DuJuan Harris who cuts it back left and takes the ball down inside the 1, might be a touchdown – McCarthy challenges and the call on the field is overruled – Touchdown

Crosby with the extra point

Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11

Packers 7 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Crosby kicks through the end zone

Vikings third possession of the first half

First and 10 from the 20, handoff to Peterson off right tackle for 1, Dezman Moses with the tackle

Vikings

Packers

End of the first quarter

Second and 9, Webb drops back to pass, nothing open and runs up the middle for 10

First and 10, Peterson for 4 to the 35

Second and 6, Webb under center, Webb is forced to the outside and sacked by Clay Matthews

Third and 15, Webb under pressure tosses the ball away and is called for intentional grounding

Fourth down punt by Kluwe, Cobb catches it at the 30 and returns it 6 yards to the 36

Packers third possession

First and 10 from the 36, Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 8,

Second and 2, Rodgers dumps ball to Harris over the middle for first down

First and 10 ball at Vikings 49, pitch to Harris who runs right and is hit by S Harrison Smith with the nice tackle

Second and 11, Rodgers under center, nobody open and the Vikings sack Rodgers for loss of 8

Third and 19, pass over the middle to Jennings, but he is five yards short of the first down

Fourth down punt by Masthay and fair catch by Sherels to the 14

Vikings possession

First and 10 from the Vikings 14, Webb under center, pass toward Michael Jenkins knocked away by Sam Shields

Second and 10, Peterson hit at line of scrimmage, dances around and is hemmed in for no gain

Third and 8, Webb in gun, pass to Jerome Simpson two yards short of the first down, Tramon Williams on the coverage

Fourth down punt to Cobb at the 18, returns to the 26. Cobb runs 50 yards to get 8.

Packers fifth possession

First and 10 at the Packers 26, Rodgers in gun, inside handoff to Cobb off right tackle for 4

Second and 6, Rodgers in gun, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right and then hits Tom Crabtree who hurdles for the first down

First down and 10, Rodgers has lots of time and hits James Jones for 20

First and 10, another inside handoff right for 2

Second and 8, pass to Jones for 3

Third and 5, ball at Vikings 34, Rodgers in the gun, thows toward Nelson who was nowhere near the ball

Greg Jennings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth and 5, Packers go for it, Rodgers passes to Jennings who breaks tackles and rumbles to the 3 for first down to the 3

First and goal Rodgers hands off to Kuhn for 2,

Second and goal, pass to Finley falls incomplete

Third and goal, Rodgers under center, quick handoff to Kuhn goes nowhere

Crosby for FG – GOOD

Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11

Packers 10 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Sherels returns to the 33, but Vikings called for holding

Vikings possession

First and 10, ball at the Vikings 12, Peterson up the middle for 5,

Second and 5, long pass toward Jerome Simpson well overthrown

Third and 5, Webb in the gun, Webb under pressure first by BJ Raji and then forces him up in the pocket and Erik Walden gets the sack

Two-minute warning

Fourth down punt by Kluwe to Cobb – line drive rolls to a stop and downed by Vikings

John Kuhn
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Packers Sixth possession

First and 10 at the 38, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle to Jordy Nelson for 23 over the middle

First and 10, Rodgers passes to a wide open Jennings to the 26 and another first down

First and 10, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right and hits Nelson to the 3

First and goal, Rodgers thinks about running, backs up and throws incomplete

Second and goal, Rodgers in the gun, inside handoff to Kuhn for the touchdown

Crosby extra point

Packers 17 Vikings 3

Vikings possession

First and 10, Webb throws over the middle to Peterson for 8

Vikings timeout -second

Second and 2, Webb airs it out with nobody in the zip code

Third and 2, 22 seconds left, Peterson gets a first down and runs out of bounds to stop the clock

16 seconds left, first and 10, ball at 44, Webb under pressure throws ball over the middle low and nearly picked by Williams

10 seconds left, Webb throws to left sideline incomplete

Last play of first half, Webb throws incomplete

End of first half

Packers 17 Vikings 3

Packers

Vikings

Packers

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Vikings

1st Quarter

Blair Walsh 33 yard field goal, 9:26 Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards in 5:34
Minnesota 3-0

DuJuan Harris 9 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:00 Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards in 6:11
Green Bay 7-3

2nd Quarter

Mason Crosby 20 yard field goal, 3:25 Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards in 5:01
Green Bay 10-3

John Kuhn 3 yard TD run (Mason Crosby extra point is GOOD), 0:38 Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards in 1:10
Green Bay 17-3

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2H9todQCg

Aaron Rodgers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Second half

Vikings kick off to Packers to Jeremy Ross – takes a knee and a touchback

Packers first possession of the second half

First and 10 at the 20, Rodgers under center handoff to Harris for 4

Second and 6, Packers in no huddle, Rodgers under center hands off to Harris for 4

Third and 2, Rodgers in the gun, quick pass over the middle to James Jones for a first down

First and 10, ball at 37, Rodgers in gun, Rodgers sacked

Second and 14, Rodgers in gun, nobody open, runs up the middle for 11

Third and 4, pass over the middle to James Jones for 19 yards and a first down

First and 10, Rodgers in the gun, dump off to Harris for 4

Second and 6, pass over the middle to Harris for first down to the 20

Rodgers under center, handoff to Harris for 6

Second and 4, Rodgers in the gun – calls timeout at 9:45 mark of third quarter – first

Second and 4, ball at the Vikings 14, Rodgers fakes handoff left, rolls right, but can’t find anyone open and throws it away

Third and 4, pass over the middle toward Finley knocked down by Harrison

John Kuhn (30) runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Crosby FG attempt – but before the attempt 12 men on the field penalty call against the Vikings that gives the Packers and first and goal

Packers first and goal at the Vikings 10, Rodgers in the gun, pass over the middle to Kuhn over the middle for the touchdown

Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards in 5:35

Packers 24 Vikings 3

Packers kick off to Vikings – Sherels downs it in the end zone

Vikings first and 10 from the 20, Peterson stopped for 4 yard loss by Erik Walden

Pass over the middle to Simpson for 12

Third and 2, Peterson over the middle for 2

First and 10 from the 32, Webb pass over the middle for 13 yards and a first down to Rudolph

First and 10, Webb attempts pass down left sideline for John Carlson is incomplete

Second and 10, Webb under center, handoff to Peterson who is hit at the line, bounces it outside but tackled by Sam Shields for 2 yards

Pass over the middle to Wright for first down

first and 10, ball at Packers 45, Webb under pressure by AJ Hawk, ball incomplete over the middle

Second and 10, Peterson bounces up the middle for 2

Third and 8, Webb passes short to Wright, but short of first down

Fourth and 3, Webb in gun, Matthews hits Webb, Webb fumbles and Matthews recovers

Packers take over on turnover

First and 10, ball at the Packers, handoff to Harris for 3

Second and 7, Harris hit in backfield, bounces off the tackle, runs left and hit by Harrison Smith for a loss

Third and 15, passes toward Cobb low and incomplete right at the first down marker.

Fourth and 15, punt by Masthay, Sherels fair catch

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the Vikings 19, Peterson up the middle for 5

Second and 5, Webb under center, handoff to Peterson who runs left for the first down

First and 10, Peterson for 3 off right tackle

Second and 7, Webb throws incomplete

Third and 7, Webb drops back but runs for a first down with a run up the middle

First and 10, Webb rolls left, throws long down the left sideline and it’s intercepted by Sam Shields

Stats through the third quarter

Vikings

Packers

Fourth quarter

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Packers possession

First and 10 at the Packers 8, Harris gets the pitch left for 2 yards

Second and 8, Rodgers under center, Harris for 4

Third and 4, pass toward Jennings incomplete

Fourth down punt, Sherels muffs the punt and Packers recover

Packers possession

First down and 10, Harris for no game

Second 10, Harris for 1

Third and 9, pass toward Nelson down right sideline incomplete

Punt by Masthay, Sherels fair catch

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the 9, Webb passes long to nobody

Second and 10 at the 9, handoff to Peterson who cuts left, loses his balance and falls with no gain

Third and 10, Webb in the gun, under pressure, Webb runs up the middle for 8 to force a punt

Fourth and 2, Vikings were going to go for it, but punt instead, Cobb catches at the 29, runs sideways and returns it two yards.

Packers possession

First and 10, ball at the 31, Rodgers quick pass to Jennings for 2

Second and 8, Rodgers pass over the middle is tipped incomplete

Third and 8, Rodgers in the gun, hits Kuhn over the middle, but he is two yards short of the first down

Masthay punt to Sherels to the 21. Fair catch.

9:05 left in the game

Joe Webb
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings possession

First and 10 from the 21, Peterson falls again, bounces outside and picks up 17

Peterson up the middle and tackled by Woodson, but not before he picks up a first down

First and 10, Woodson nearly sacks Webb, but he throws ball away

Second and 10, pass down the right sideline nearly intercepted by Williams

Third down and 10, Webb tries to pass, is pressured by several Packers, but forced out of bounds after picking up 1

Fourth down and 9, Packers’ Mike Neal called for encroachment

Fourth and 4, 6:30 left, Webb in gun, passes incomplete – Packers take over on downs

Adrian Peterson (28) is tackled in the backfield by Green Bay Packers strong safety Charles Woodson (21) in the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Lambeau Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Packers possession

First and 10, handoff to Ryan Grant for 7

Second and 3, handoff to Ryan Grant and a loss of 5

Third and 8, ball at the 45, Rodgers in the gun, Rodgers sacked

Fourth down punt by Masthay to Sherels. Runs it back to the 34

Vikings possession

First and 10 at the 34, Webb throws incomplete

Second and 10, quick slant over the middle to Jenkins

First and 10, Broken coverage and a 50 yard touchdown down right sideline for a touchdown

Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards in 0:36

 3:39 to play

Packers 24 Vikings 10

Vikings with a pooch kick picked up by Jeremy Ross who runs out of bounds

Packers possession

First and 10, handoff to Ryan Grant for 2

Vikings timeout

Second and 8, Grant for 3

Third and 5, 3:25 left, Rodgers in empty backfield and gun, pass to Nelson for a first down; Nelson limps off the field

First and 10, Rodgers trips handing off to Grant who loses 2

Two-minute warning

Second and 12, Rodgers under center, fakes handoff and throws complete for 1

Third and 11, handoff to Grant to the 31

1 minute left

Packers punt with 28 seconds left, Sherels fair catch at 32

19 seconds left

Vikings first and 10, Webb in gun, completes gun to Jenkins

Webb spikes ball with 1 second left, pass to Rudolph complete and tackled at 20

Final score: Packers 24 Vikings 10

Peterson kept to 99 yards

Final Statistics

Vikings

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Vikings

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Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2013/01/05/5233/index.html#ixzz2HAHgEKG4

I’m hoping that today’s match-ups between the Giants and Falcons and Steelers and Broncos instill a bit more interest.

Yesterday’s Bengals vs. Texans was entertaining for one half before Houston literally ran away from Cincy. And as for the Lions vs. Saints … we all knew deep down how that game was going to turn out. The Lions are missing many pieces … and Mr. Suh was completely invisible. Clearly, the New Orleans was the best team playing yesterday and will probably show that, with the Packers, stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

So, with the Giants getting set to kick-off with the Falcons, I have a feeling that somehow Mr. Manning will find a way to win this one … but does it matter to the Packers? Probably not. I feel they will be ready next weekend for whichever team steps on the Lambeau Field turf.

So, without any more hype, who wins today?

Take the poll and enjoy the games.